Completely FREE Software - CFS Weekly Newsletter #479 issued June 27, 2008

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This electronic newsletter is registered – ISSN 1441-6840
Welcome to the CFS Weekly Newsletter.
The programs listed here are completely free for non-commercial use, even though some may be shareware or commercial products. None are time-limited and all are fully functional. If you know any that aren't exactly as specified, please let us know and they will be removed immediately.
If the link below does not work (does not take you directly to the program listing) it is probably because the site has been upgraded and the link is no longer valid. Please use the CFS Site Search facility (above) to locate the program.
COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE

The Oracle v1.1 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
The Oracle is a first-person perspective, photo-realistic adventure (also called "Interactive Fiction") photographed entirely on location in Canada and Portugal. It features over 140 screens, 8 different locations, logical & challenging puzzles (inventory, musical & interactive puzzles), save games using photo snapshots, in-game hint system, over 12 unique musical scores, over 75 realistic sound effects, and more. This is an awesome first-person adventure (similar to the early Sierra and Lucasarts games from the 90s) that relies not on cartoon-style drawn images like most similar games, but uses stunning photographs to create the scene. The puzzles are, in many cases, quite challenging but there is a hint feature which can help you move on to the next stage. Of course, it is always better if you don't have to rely on the hints... Undoubtedly the feature that hits you first are the excellent photographs but it doesn't take long before you are engrossed in the chase to the point that even spectacular photographs are not a diversion. One of the best point-and-click adventures we have seen, The Oracle is well worth the large download. We particularly liked the use of a PDA image for the in-game menu interface and the options. Cool. Whether you just like to see great photographs, or if you are a hard-core gamer, The Oracle is the game to get. Definitely 10 out of 10. We loved! Access this 75.4MB download (we said it was big!) from: Win95 General Games

Iconize v2.0.0.3 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
Iconize is a small application that docks any program in the desktray, and quickly restores them with a double-click. It features an "undock all" command, you can select any running windows application to be docked from a right click menu, it includes a "minimize all" command to display the desktop, and more. This is a simple, yet highly effective utility. A desktop can get cluttered with lots of open programs and it is advantageous to be able to minimize some to the desktray (next to the clock) to help keep it clear, and Iconize is able to do just that. It can also rebuild the docked icons if Windows Explorer crashes. We really like the concept behind Iconize, and this little program carries out its duties without fuss or trouble. Worth grabbing! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 120kB download from: Win98 Desktop Utilities

Debut v1.34 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
Debut is a program to capture video from a Webcam, the screen, or some other capture device (videocam, etc) by using a USB capture device or TV capture card. It supports 8 popular video formats (AVI, WMV, FLV, ASF, MPG, 3GP, MP4 & MOV), optionally records audio, multiple video & audio encoder settings, ability to adjust resolution & framerate of the output video, color settings & video effects for the output video can be changed, transmit video files via the internet using FTP, send video via email once the recording is completed, and more. This is a sensational video capture tool that can capture and record almost anything that can be played or displayed on a computer screen. By using a USB capture device (like EasyCap – which requires at least Windows XP) you can even capture raw video directly from a video camera, or use it to grab the video stored on a camera. Unfortunately, Debut does seem to have trouble with the widescreen format and is probably best used in 4:3 mode. If you use the default output settings you can achieve 25 to 30fps but, if you expect it to perform at a larger resolution, the framerate will slow accordingly. The first time you use a particular output format you are likely to be faced with having to install the codec that supports it. This is done automatically if you are connected to the Internet though, if you wish to download all individual components offered by the author, the total download is about 10MB. We were most impressed with Debut. It can capture virtually any video (streaming or file) that the computer can display. It is perfect for, say, capturing video on a videocam, converting it to FLV format, and uploading it to YouTube. You can also use it to create a screen capture video (complete with snapshots). A must have for anyone working with video files. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 417kB download from: Win98 Multimedia Programs

FreeFTP v3.0 – WinME/XP
FreeFTP is an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client for uploading and downloading files between a remote server and a local computer (localhost). It features drag 'n drop, upload/download multiple files simultaneously, CERN proxy support, resume support for download & upload, download/upload complete directory structures, integrated local file browser, CHMOD support for changing permissions on UNIX servers, moves files & folders to another location on the server, and more. This is an unusual FTP client in that it does not offer a dual pane view (localhost on left, remote host on right) as does most other FTP clients. In this program, the remote host only is displayed and, if you wish to upload a file, a separate browser window will pop-up so you can select your file(s). You must pre-nominate the download location for any file you wish to get. Once the program has been used a couple of times, the procedure for transferring files becomes transparent and it becomes very simple to use. You can set up your remote site(s) using a Wizard-style dialog box and save them in a Favorites section for re-use. It offers most of the functions of other, high-end FTP clients but generally without the bulky download. FreeFTP is an efficient and effective FTP client that should suit most users, but a few points should be noted. First, it is suitable only for Windows ME and XP – the author won't make it 100% Vista compliant because he refuses to load Vista on his computer. Second, it requires an awkward download procedure, with a registration number e-mailed to the prospective user, so that it can be downloaded. This is free, but frustrating, and we wonder why the author requires your e-mail address... Third, it is free for non-commercial use only. Apart from the lack of Vista support, and the awkward download procedure, we found FreeFTP to be an excellent, if slightly unusual, FTP client. Access this 684kB download from: WinME/XP Internet Related

Alpha Catcher v1.0 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
Alpha Catcher is a time-based word-based puzzle with 3 different levels. In the first you must click on the different ABCD... bugs in sequential, reverse, or random order. In the second you must find the correct letters of each word displayed on top. In the third, you must find the correct letters of each sentence displayed on top. This is a fun little game for anyone who enjoys word-based puzzles. The three levels represent different versions of the game with each level being harder than the one before. You have different time periods to complete each level and each has a slightly different look to the others. Terrific for improving language skills, Alpha Catcher is a great little game that can be played over and over. We liked. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 1.25MB download from: Win98 General Games

Visual Basic Script Compiler v1.00 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
Visual Basic Script Compiler is a compiler which converts VBS or VBE Visual Basic files into EXE format files. It features a built-in ScriptPad editor (with spell checker), GUI & commandline run options, and more. This is a simple way of both creating VBS files using the built-in text editor, and converting VBS or VBE files into stand-alone EXE files. The spell checker included with the ScriptPad editor is very basic and does not include programming terms. As you cannot add words to its dictionary, this makes the spell checker virtually useless for programmers, though anyone using ScriptPad just as an ASCII text editor will find it helpful. Once a script has been written (or loaded), it can be compiled using the Make command in the Script menu (or pressing Ctrl-F9). Because the author's Website is in Vietnamese, we have provided a direct link to the download file. We have also offered a ZIP version of the program because the author has only presented Visual Basic Script Compiler in the less popular (though very efficient) 7z format from 7-Zip (listed with CFS). Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 226kB download (269kB in ZIP format from CFS) from: Win98 General Programs

ImageFlip v1.1 – WinXP/Vista
ImageFlip is a fast image rotation tool to re-align "side-on" photos. It features thumbnails of each image for easier selection, supports the popular JPG format, loads entire folders for processing, has simple "left" & "right" buttons to rotate, auto-saves flipped images, and more. One of the biggest pains for anyone with a digital camera is the "side-on" photo. While almost every image editing program can rotate them, what is needed is a simple, one-function tool that can quickly carry out this task – specially if it auto-saves the image once it has been flipped. ImageFlip is just such a program and we were really looking forward to reviewing it. This program did everything it claimed, but unfortunately it reduced image quality so much that the 1MB image we started with (from a 3.1 megapixel camera) became a 330kB image once it had been flipped. While the pixel size of the image had not changed, its quality had been reduced substantially and we were disappointed in the result. The final image was still good, but did not have the quality of the original. ImageFlip lacks any way of controlling the output quality so you are stuck with the author's idea on what represents suitable image quality. While JPG is designed for compression to reduce image size, it is a lossy format because any reduction in size reduces the image quality. ImageFlip had two other aspects we did not like – the limitation of only JPG format images being accepted, and the "Left Flip" and "Right Flip" buttons seemed, to us, to be the wrong way around. While these other two points were minor, they were still annoyances which, we felt, could be easily rectified. However, the biggest annoyance was the reduction in image quality when an image was flipped. There were so many things we loved about ImageFlip it seems harsh to highlight just the negative, but these negative items became dominant when we reviewed this program. If the author can fix them (at least the quality reduction, preferably with an option to make your own image quality setting) he will have a winner. Without them, its potential is much reduced. It is a shame because we love the concept of ImageFlip and have been looking for a program like this for some time. If you don't mind the reduction in image quality, then grab a copy of ImageFlip. You won't be disappointed. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 879kB download from: WinXP Graphic Programs

Laseroid – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
Laseroid is a vertically scrolling, Japanese-style space shooter using high end vector graphics for 1 to 3 players. It features 4 levels of difficulty (Easy, Normal, Hard & Insane), choice of 5 craft, superb vector graphics, highly configurable, excellent sound effects & music, fast action, joystick or keyboard, and more. This is an fabulous space shooter with semi-abstract vector graphics. Its pace is frenetic and you must be quick to survive for any period of time. In this game you must select your spaceship and then you are into the action. Keyboard controls are typically Japanese – shoot is the X key, focus is the Z key, and laying bombs is the C key. The arrow keys give direction. If there are two or more players, at least one must use a joystick as only one person can use the keyboard. By default there are 3 lives available when you start, and 3 bombs, but you can change these in the Setup screen. We were really impressed with Laseroid. It is one of the better vector-graphic space shooters and is highly addictive. We loved! Get this 9.54MB download from: Win95 General Games
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